Officials vow $1M gold gilding job at State House will 'last longer' than '93 work

PLYMOUTH — The gold on the State House dome should be glistening a little brighter by Halloween 2014.

The Executive Council Wednesday approved a $972,890 contract with D.L. King Associates Inc. of Nashua to repair the State House dome.

The $1 million project includes $170,000 for the gold leaf that will be attached to the dome.

The dome was last gilded in 1993 said Michael Connor, Division of Plant and Property Management Director.

"We hope this lasts longer." he told the council.

The 1993 project dragged on over several years after the state fired the first contractor who told the state to wait for ideal conditions before replacing the gold leaf.

A second company was hired to complete the job, but the gold leaf is peeling again.

District 5 Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli, D-Nashua, asked Connor if the interior of the dome would be repaired as well, noting the last time she was in the dome several years ago it was in terrible condition.

Connor said some work has been done on the interior structure but not a lot. "It is a little nicer," he said, but the public is still not allowed into the structure.

Connor told the council the gold is 23 ½ carats, but he did not know how much gold would be needed to do the project. The dome and lantern roofs and the ball and eagle will be gilded.

The work also includes painting and repairing the base and wooden structure.

Three companies bid on the project and D.L. King was the lowest bidder.

Money to repair the dome was included in the capital budget approved by lawmakers in June.